The Lennon Closet is a Fine Family Consignment Store owned by two remarkable people, Tom and Debbie Lennon. They are generous enough to donate 1% of all sales to B.R.A.I.N.
For more information on ‘The Lennon Closet’ Store click here. Please read their son Tommy’s story and why B.R.A.I.N. has become an important piece of their lives.
Tommy Lennon suffered a traumatic brain injury at 16 years of age when his surfboard snapped back on the end of its leash and struck him like a battering ram in the right forehead. It took 75 stitches by a plastic surgeon to repair the wound on his forehead and upper cheek. An x-ray revealed a hairline fracture of the skull. No further tests were done to determine if any brain damage had occurred and he was sent home with a bandaged head and instructions to “keep an eye on him” for signs of concussion, etc. The injury immediately affected his behavior, involving impulse control and social cues. He began to deteriorate quickly and was soon asked to leave the private school where he played football. Eventually, he got his diploma from a continuation school and in his first semester of college he began to self-medicate with street drugs, namely heroin. Soon he was in a “revolving door” involving the criminal justice system for homelessness, drug addiction (possession and overdosing), panhandling, and petty theft. He was sentenced to a “diversion” program and given rehab instead of jail. The judge admonished him: “If I see you back in this court I’m sending you to prison”. Tommy left the rehab program by climbing out the bathroom window, was re-arrested and sent to prison. In prison our son was put in observation on the “medical side” of the prison. Naked, with lights on 24/7 he was told, “if he behaved” he could start to earn back clothing and a blanket. Tommy never accomplished that, so he was placed in “the hole”, solitary confinement, and forgotten about for five months. By the time we were given permission to see our son he was a broken man. He had suffered a psychotic break. Even though he had served his prison time for petty theft and was released, he was now serving “a life sentence”.
Today Tommy is 40 years old. He is conserved by the county and is stabilized living in a psychiatric hospital. He will be released soon. But “where will he live?”, is the question we ask ourselves over and over again. The United States of America continues to build more jails and prisons. Jails and prisons are a lucrative business and can be found on the stock exchange. Please, let’s find a way to put our awareness and money into B.R.A.I.N. Brain Rehabilitation and Injury Network. Residential care facilities need to be built for people like our son Tommy. Thank you Susan Rueb, Founder/President for working to turn the tides in America and giving us all hope.
Sincerely,
The Lennon family
